UNC Pledge Tre Shaw Feels the Brotherhood

Shaw uses official visit experience to further the bond with future teammates.

Although an out-of-stater, Tre Shaw doesn't feel like an outsider among the other members of North Carolina's 2017 commitment list.

"It's a brotherhood already," Shaw said. "We have a group chat going on, so we stay in contact with each other everyday really."

That brotherhood was in full effect a couple of weekends back when Shaw took his official visit to UNC. The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback from Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove was one of five verbal commitments officially visiting that weekend.

Equally as important as the bond with his classmates, Shaw felt he meshed nicely with current members of the team. He spent much of the weekend with Myles Wolfolk, his player host, and other defensive backs.

"We were really just talking about how I could come in and help out the team," Shaw said.

Prior to the official visit, Shaw had made quite a few visits to UNC, but had yet to witness a game in Kenan Stadium. Thus, heading into the official he was excited to soak in the Tar Heels' Coastal Division bout with Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, Hurricane Matthew dampened the experience.

"The defense actually did well, in spite of the rain," Shaw said. "They held [Virginia Tech] to good yardage.

"I can see where I can come in and help knowing that Des [Lawrence] is leaving and M.J. [Stewart] might be leaving, and [Dominique] Green leaving. I can come in and get easy playing time as long as I put in the work."

"They informed me that they don't mind playing freshmen," Shaw said. "They really just want me to come in and work my hardest and do my best. And most likely I'll get playing time at either corner or nickel spots."

Additionally, Shaw met with Larry Fedora. But, Fedora's focus was off the field, especially since Shaw will enroll in less than three months.

"He was just telling me to come in here and make sure I do the right things and I'll be successful at UNC," Shaw said.

Firmly committed, Shaw's official visit to UNC will be his first and last. However, he might visit a couple schools as guests of his teammates. Two of his teammates, Netori Johnson and Justin Shaffer, are committed to Georgia, while a third, Korey Hernandez, has pledge to Arkansas.

"No more looking," Shaw said. "Just fun now.

"What keeps me committed is just knowing that before I was committed to [UNC] they always made sure I felt I was at home and I was their No. 1 choice. I believe that if I wasn't committed yet or if I was committed to another school, [UNC] would still be trying to recruit me heavily."

Shaw will try to make one of UNC's final three homes games, likely the Georgia Tech game.